Briquet and method of making the same.



C. H. SMITH.

RiQUET AND mEHoD 0F MAKING THE SAME.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. i5. |915.

Patented; Aug. 20, w18.

UNITED STATES PATENT oEEIcE.

CHARLES HOWARD SMITH, OF SHORT HILLS, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR T INTER- NATIONAL COAL PRODUCTS CORPORATION, OF RICHMOND, VIRGINIA, A CORPO- RATION 0F VIRGINIA.

BRIQUET AND METHOD oEMAxINc+` THE SAME.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Ang. 2o, 191s.

' Application tiled November 15, 1916. Serial No. 181,434.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, CHARLES HOWARD SMrrH,a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Short Hills, county of Essex,

and State of New Jersey, have invented new forin- 'a briquet and subject' it to a heating operation whereby a substantial portion of the volatile matter contained in the briquet will be distilled therefrom, leaving a strong coherent carbonized briquet which is a practically smokeless fuel.

I have found that when briquets are made of certain raw coals or partially-carbonized coal containing approximately from eleven per cent. (11%) to seventeen per cent. (17%) volatile matter exclusive of water which may be added in the making of the briquetsthey can be heated in a manner to distil ofi' a substantial portion of the volatile matter'contained therein and thatl there will be left a strong coherent carbonized and substantially smokeless briquet.

I have also discovered that when. certain soft sei. :ianthracite coals or partially carbonized coal, which contain less than eleven per cent (11%) volatile matter, have added thereto-in finely divided form or in liquid form-hydrocarbon volatile matter (hydrocarbon bindingmaterial) such as tar, pitch,

oil or even raw coal in amount suflicient to raise the hydrocarbon matter contained 1n the mlxture to approximately from eleven per cent. (11%) to seventeen per cent.l

(17%)-exclusive of any water which may be added-and when the mixture is formed into a mash there can be made therefrom briquets which when subjected to a carbonizing or distilling operation lose a substantial portion of the volatile matter contained therein, leaving a strong coherent carbonized `briquet' which is a practically smokeless fuel. The word mash as used herein is employed to designate a mass of powdered or lfinely divided coal or partially distilled coal having intermixed therewith water or hydrocarbon volatile matter in liquid or plastic form whereby there results a soft mixture or plastic mixture that can be readily molded into briquets. f Another object of the invention is to make carbonized smokeless briquets from high volatile coalswhich as raw4 coals cannot, because of their excess volatile content, be made into briquets that can be directly carbonized without rupture of the structureby subjecting said high volatile coals to a preliminary distilling or carbonizing operation, by making briquets directly from the resulting residue if the volatile content in said residue is of the proper proportions, or by making briquets from said resulting residue by adding thereto or mixing therewith s'uiiicient hydrocarbon volatile matter to raise the percentage of volatile matter in the resulting mixture to the desired amount, and by subjecting the briquetsthus made to a heating operation to distil therefrom a substantial portion of the volatile matter contained therein, thus producing strong coherent carbonized smokeless briquets.

Another obj ect of the invention is to make carbonized smokeless briquets from low volatile fuels, such as certain grades of semianthracite coal, or partially carbonized coal, which fuels are too low in volatile content to be formed directly into briquets, by addbonized briquets from high volatile fuel.-

When such fuel is employedit is prepared for formation into briquetsby subjecting it to a heating operation within a substantially air-tight-retort so as to partially distil from the coal some of the volatile matter contained therein, chiefly the tars which come off at low temperatures and which soften and render plastic to a very large extent the material under distillation. This operation may be considered an initial distillation process and it may also be referred to as the reparin o eration. Durin the heatin lhe charge vlirithin the retortgis preferabf constantly mixed and agitated, this bein done lin such a manner that all particles o any particular portion of the coal mass or charge in the retort are constantly mixed or agitated whereby there will be a uniform heating and consequent distillation. ln this manner the period of distillation is reduced to a minimum, with a maximum recovery of by-products, and for'vthis reason is the preferred method of initial distillation when re uired.

uring the initial distillation the heating of the coal within the retort is carried for the desired period progressively Aupward until a maximum temperature varying approximatelyfrom 825 degrees F. to 1200 de-' grecs F. is reached during which heating the tar vapors are largely removed. Y The resulting residue discharged from the retort is a dry soft partially carbonized coal (or semi-coke as some might call it) containing treme live per cent. (5%) to fourteen per cent.` (14%) of volatile matter. Illhe next step of the process is the forming of this material into briquets which upon further distillation, at higher temperatures, will completely fuse or cohere in the retortinto strong dense. blocks of the same shape as charged, and each briquet maintains this structure without disintegration or rupture upon cooling to normal temperatures.

l have found in such coals as l have tested that such a cohesion does take place when the volatile matter of the briquet-exclusive of any water admixed as a temporary binder-ranges between eleven per cent. (11%) and seventeen per cent. (17%). This cohesion is independent of the fact whether the briquet be composed of- (a) certain raw coals and water;

(b) partially carbonized coal andwater;

(c) partially carbonized coal in combination with coal tar pitch, asphalt pitch, coal tar or petroleum oils;

(d) mixtures of coal, and either coke or partially carbonized coal, and water;

(e) mixtures of coal, and either coke or partially carbonized coal, with any of the above hydrocarbons;

'(f), or a combination of any of the above with any suitable hydrocarbon; provided always, however, that the briqueted mixture as charged to the retort contains the proportion of volatile matter between eleven per cent. (11%) and seventeen per cent.k (17%), exclusive of water.

l have found that in carbonizing briquets of any of these mixtures where the percentage of volatile matter in the briquets as formed and charged to the retort is substantiallyless than the lower percentage mentioned (to wit, substantially less than eleven per' c'fent. (11%) thebriquet fails to propnaraaae erly cohere in the lfurnace and disinte rates. Vice versa, l have found that'where t e volatile matter of the mixture substantially exceeds seventeen per cent. (17%) in the briquet as formed and charged the briquet grades with increased volatile into a more or less cellular structure or a spongy coke,

in which the structure of the briquet is ruptured and the briquet loses its shape and runs together into a mass while in the retort.

l have found that briquets made from material containing eleven per cent. (11%) to seventeen per cent. (17%) volatile` matter will not run together in the retort, neither will they lose their original shape and they will cohere into completely fused briquets of great strength and density. ll have also found that the best results are obtained with most briquet mixtures at approximately fourteen per cent.l (14%) volatile matter.`

lnformin the briquet the materials of proper volati e content as described are pulverized or rendered in a comparatively inely divided form by any suitable means, such as ordinary cru-shers, and thoroughly and intimately mixed, after which the mixture is briqueted in any suitable manner into blocks oit deiuite size and shape. When coal tar pitch, vasphalt pitch, tar or petroleum oils forma portion of the mixture the binding can be erd'ected in the ways well known to the art, but when coal or partially carbonized coal in adry or non-plastic stage is used without the admixture of hydrocarbon binding material or when a mixture of partially carbonized coal and raw coal is used in a dry or non-plastic stage or condition, it is necessary to form the same into a mash, as by the admixture of suicient water, so that this otherwise dry4 material a can be pressed or molded into'the desired 1t will be noted, however, that whenv shape. partially distilled coal in a plastic condition is utilized, either to provide the whole or a part ofthe briquet, said plastic distilled coal may provide its 'own binder and may be briqueted while in said plastic condition and in such case the briqueting may be accomplished without the further addition of binding material. In other words, the plastic coal may be considered to'provide the binding qualities necessary either when used alone or as a substantial part of the mixture. V

The briquets are then charged into the.

second oven or retort and heated to a temperature of from 1400 degrees F. upward inely divided metallurgicall coke and av binder when distilled in a manner so as to remove practically all of the volatile matter in the briquet-that is so as to remove alll the volatile matter that is in the binder since there is practically no volatile matter in metallurgical coke-results in a briquet which is close or slow burning under ordinary drafts. A briquet made from soft, nonmetallic partially distilled coal obtained at low temperatures can be redistilled at higher temperatures when mixed with pitch or other hydrocarbon binder and result in a briquet capable. of ready combustion under ordinary drafts. The same is true as to briquets from which'practically all of the volatile matter has been removed, that is from which all the volatile matter not only in the briquet but all the volatile matter remaining in the partially distilled coal from which the briquet has been made has'been removed, The fact that the briquet last mentioned is relatively free burning is probably due to the relatively soft, non-metallic form of carbon produced by the original or initial heat treatment and which carbon is not changed or altered to a hard metallic carbon in the second or subsequent heat treatment at higher temperatures.

This feature of removing the volatile matter from the briquet and completely fusing the material composing the briquet is vaccomplishedby my process by putting the briquet through .a retort or oven which is heated to the required temperatures, as previously indicated. Manifestly, in charging the briquets to this retort or oven the briquets should be handled in such a manner that they will not bebroken by rough treatment, and in such condition thatthey will leave the retort or oven in the shape in which they were initially formed. This retort'or oven is substantially air-tight and is provided with the necessary connections to the byproduct apparatus so that the products of distillation can be drawn ofll and recovered.-

By my process I am able to take a'coal having a high volatile or moisture content, or both, and by distillation reduce the percentage of volatile matter or moisture in the coal to the amount required for the manufacture of briquets which are somewhat similai` in their burning characteristics to an anthracite coal. That is, I am able to concentrate a raw coal containing say thirty-six per cent. (36%) volatile matter and fiftyfive per cent. (55%) fixed carbon to a briquet containing as low as two and one-half per cent. (25%), or even lower of volatilel matter and eighty-five per cent. (85%) to ninety-two per cent. (92%) of fixed carbon, according to the ash in the coal treated.

In carrying out `my process I am also enabled to recover during the initial distillation of the raw coal certain by-products contained in the coal and in addition I am also enabled to recover during the 4second distillation further by-products containedin the -briqueted material. The residue .from the initial distillation is frequently referred to as partially carbonized coal. These recoveries and the high 'character of the fuel make the process commercial and highlyfeconomical. Y'

By the utilization of this process anartificial anthracite briquet, as it may be termed, viz., a briquet similar in many of its valuable properties to anthracite coal, containing two and one-half per cent. (292%) or more or even less volatile matter can be obtained from a high volatile coal in combinationwithany of these binders.

`the drawing- Figure 1 is a diagrammatic illustration of the apparatus employed and the various steps performed. In said lapparatus there is indicated one form of retort in a furnace forperforming an initial heating. Figs. 2 and 3 are respectively diagrammatic longi7 tudinal and diagrammatic transverse sectional views of another form of retort that can be employed for the initial heating.

Referring now to the drawing in detail. B represents a crusher of any suitable type adapted to crush coal received'from pile A. A hopper C is provided with suitable means, such as a screw-feed or plunger, for conveying coal from the crusher to the interior of the retort F located in the furnace D. The furnace D is provided with any suitable heating means, such as flues,-E, in which tort. From the retort F the partially carbonized coal or resulting residue passes along a discharger and conveyer H, thence to a crusher K where it is pulverized or rendered in a finely divided form. Thence it passes to an apparatus L which comprises units for fluxing or mixing, so that the material can be broughtas by the admixture of binding material to the desired percentage of volatile, and for conveying the fluxed or mixed material to a press in which the material is briqueted. The admi'xture previously referred t0 is added and mixed with the pulverized or finely divided materlal 1n the fluxing or mixing units. Erom the press the briquets are charged or conveyed into the second retort or oven U which is 1ocated in .a second furnace l. A. second distillation takes place in this retort or oven and there is provided means for withdrawing the vapors and gaseous products from the retort or oven, as will hereinafter more fully appear. The furnace I is provided with means, such as fines E, in which are located suitable gas and hot-air burners for heating the retort or oven U. lt will be manifest, however, that other means for heating this retort or oven may be provided,

if such were desired. 0n completion of the y distillation operation the briquets are discharged from the oven as completely fused, coherent blocks andare allowed to at least partially cool, either before or after theyV have been discharged frmn the oven, after which they may be Aquenched or otherwise cooled to normal temperatures.

The period the coal is left in the retort F and the amount of heat applied to the charge therein during said period is determined and controlled so that the volatile content of the coal is reduced to the desired amount, approximately, for example, between five er cent. (5%) and fourteen per cent. (14%5 ln order to facilitate the withdrawal of the gases and vapors l provide suitable exhausting means M connected to the retorts F and U, the function of which is to maintain a balanced pressure at all times in each member to which it is connected. Suitable material from the feed end of the retort to' the discharge end, but it is also so arranged that it will continuously mix 0r agitate the material or charge in the retort in such a manner that there will be presented a continuously changing surface or turning over of the minute granules of the material in the charge during all of the stages of heating, thus aording rapid and uniform distillation.

The retort F when designed to contain as a mixer element a single shaft with paddles is preferably provided with a ram or polrer p arranged so as to extend-as from the discharge end of the retort-into the retort naraeae for the purpose of overcoming an diiculty for example into a' quadrant g formed by the paddles when said quadrant is at the top of the retort and when the machinery is stopped. After the ram or pokerhas been withdrawn the machinery is 0 erated until i the next quadrant appears at t e top of the retort when the machinery is stopped and the ram or cker again thrust into a second quadrant. n this manner the material in each of the four quadrants may be actedy upon by the ram.

The gases and vapors which are given od during the heating of the coal in the retorts F and lU are drawn ed, as previously indi# cated, by the exhausting means M and they are separated by any usual or suitablecon densing and distilling process into resulting ley-products as, for example, tar and oil products N ammonia O, enzene and homologues P, heating gas R, and commercial or illuminating gas S. rlhe heating gas R and the ue gases from the furnace l may be utilized for heating the retorts F and U.

ln carrying out my process the coal from A is first crushed or pulverized in the Crusher B. From this the crushed or pulverized coal is fed through the hopper C, to the retort TE in the furnace D. By means v of the mixer and conveyer element G in the retort F the coal is uniformly and progresI sivel heated throughout. rlhe period of heating and the amount of heat applied to the coal while in the retort F depend upon the character of the coal; that is, de end upon the volatile or moisture content o the coal or both of these. This also depends upon the amount of volatile that it 1s desired to leave in the coal at the end of thev initial distillation operation.

The exhausting means M draws 0H from the retort F, during the heating operation which is performed therein, the. moisture and gaseous products, the latter of which are rich` in hydrocarbons that can be separated by the usual orgsuitable condensing and distilling processes, as desired; for example, into illuminating gas or gas for heating purposes and into tar and oil products, ammonia and other lay-products, as previously indicated. rlhe character of the heating which is performed in the second oven .or retort U on the vbriquets received from the press is dependent to a considerable extent upon the desired character of the nal briquet and the amount of by-produ'cts, but a temperature of at least M00 degrees F. is

Lamaze recommended and 1850 de rees F. preferred on account of the yield o by-products and for the obtaining of the desired shrinkage of the briquets. It will therefore be noted that the temperature utilized in the/second oven or retort will vary according to the particularheat treatment desired. The temperature in the oven may vary from 1400. degrees F. to 2000 degrees F. or more, according, for example, as to Whether it is desired to distil off the more highly volatile -portion of the binder, or whether additional byproducts 'not recovered at the lower temperatures, such as ammonia, are desired.

A briquet produced according to this method is smokeless, durable in structure and able to withstand rough handling. It will also retain its shape during comb-ustion. In combustion qualities it is somewhat similar to anthracite, but is consumed more readily than anthracite under the same draft. It is fine grained, dense and only slightly porous, but if the briquet be wel] made this latter feature is not apparent/to 'the naked eye.

As'previously indicated, the purpose of the heating in the retort or oven U is to distil much of or substantially all of the volatile matter contained in the briquet, and this heating operation therefore eliminates the elements, to Wit, the volatile matter, which causes smoke and soot during combustion.

Briquets heretofore commercially made with the aid of a hydrocarbon binder have been objectionable because they have not been smokeless. According to my process I have produced a commercial briquet in 40 which a binder has been temporarily employed in the forming of the briquet, but the objectionable feature just noted has been eliminated by the performing of the second distillation operation in the retort or oven U in which the volatile matter remaining in the briquetbe it the volatile matter of the binder or the volatile matter remaining in the partially carbonized coal or mixture from which the briquet was made-has been in a large part removed or eliminated. In

other words, I have produced a smokelessbriquet made by the temporary employment of a binder which is later replaced by the coherence properties of the briquet itself.

According to my process there results smokeless briquets having sufficient volatile matter and suficient porosity whereby thel briquets will burn relatively free, as in an open lire without a forced draft.

Reference has heretofore been made to the resulting residue being a partially carbonized coal. This residue and the briquets themselvesmight also be described as being a concentrated fuel because a substantial portion of the volatile matter contained therein has been eliminated by the distilling or heating operation performed in the retort F and 'because the percentage of carbon con-v stituent therein is materially increased as a result of the heating operation. 70

When a briquetis made in the manner above described and vsubjected to the second distilling operation it has been noted that a shrinkage takes place although thel shape of the briquet remains unchanged; in other words, the briquet finally turned out is smaller than the briquet as originally charged to the oven, it is also harder in structure, and the binder as a distinct element has disappeared. The final or resulting briquet can be given va smooth surface and is comparatively clean to handle.

In carrying out such process I mix, say eighty-five per cent. 0f the carbon residue from the first distillation contain- 85 ing say ten per cent. (10%) volatile matter with say fifteen per cent. (15%) raw coal of high volatile content (say thirty-six per cent. (36%) volatile) and I thoroughly mix and pulverize the two fuels together after which suiicient water is added and thoroughly mixed t0 form a mash and permit the mixture to be briqueted under pressure. These briquets can be made of any desired shape or size and `are suficiently strong in structure to handle until'they can be introduced into the second oven or retort. rlhey are then heated to approximately 1400 degrees F, to 2000 degrees F. and discharged and quenched as previously outlined.

I find that in the distillation of coal the massremains plastic vuntil the tar vapors have been largely removed, certainly until the volatile matter has been reduced to less than 20% in the residue, and a briquet containing approximately 20% or more volatile matter and made from -said residue will not retain its shape if subjected to distillation. If coal is partially distilled so that the volatile matter therein is reduced to say approximately between seventeen .per cent. (17%) and eleven per cent. (11%), or less, then s'aid partially distilled coal can be formed (adding hydrocarbon material if the volatilel matter of the partially distilled coal is less than that desired in the briquet which is to be subsequently distilled) into briquets having approximately from eleven per cent. (11%) to seventeen per cent. (17%) volatile matter, and such briquets will retain their shape during a subsequent distillation performed to' remove a considerable portion of the volatile matter from the briquet. I have therefore arrested the distillation at a point between these limits and molded the material int the desired shape and then continued the distillation to the desired degree. During'this latter, stage of the distillation the products of distillation are largely gases and vapors which will passoff without over- 25 either raw or partially carbonized-and coke developing the cellular structure or ruptur- 'ing the brlquet and beyond the shrinkage the fuel is therefore not altered in structure to any material degree; A. strong freefourning fuel will result from this second distillation. During the second distillation there develop some small pores resulting from the withdrawal of some of the volatile matter contained not only in the binder but also in the body material-such as the partially carbonized coal-that entered into the making which mixture contains approximately from eleven per cent. (11%) to seventeen per cent. (17%) volatile matter; (d) mixtures of certain raw coal-Or coals-with pitch or other hydrocarbon binder or the like, mixtures of artially carbonized coal with pitch or other iiydrocarbon binder or the like, mixtures of i partially carbonized coal and coke with pitch or other hydrocarbon binder or the like, or mixtures of certain raw coal-or coalsand coke with pitch or other hydrocarbon binder or the like, in which mixtures the total volatile matter therein ranges from eleven per cent. (11%) to seventeen per cent. (17%) by the method which involves the forming by pressure of briquets from these fuels prior to the introduction of briquets in an oven or retort and the sulbsequent heating so as to distil from the briquets thus made a substantial portion of the volatile content therein, and at the same time binding the briquet so formed by their own cohesive properties.

rEhe percentage of the volatile matter contained in the mixture-as the material from which the briquet is made will be referred to-may vary somewhat from the limits herein specified. This is due to the varying percentage of ash in coal and to the individual characteristics of any particular coal. The required percentage, however, can be readily determined for any particular coal and the essential characteristics 4oi the invention will not be altered. l do not include the percentage of water utilized as a portion of the requisite percentage 'of volatile matte for the second distillation.. f ln order to give' an idea as to the character of briquets resulting from a particular coal maratea there is herein inserted, as an example, the following:

l have started with a thirty-six per cent.

l(36%) volatile coal having a specific gravity of 1.3 and by the initial distillation at low temperatures l have reduced the volatile to approximately ten per cent. (10%) in the carbon residue vvhichat that point had an apparent speciiic gravity of eight-tenths (0.8). l then crushed this material and intimately mixed with it approximately ten per cent. (10%) coal tar pitch and formed the mixture into a briquet by pressure, this briquet having approximately sixteen and one-half per cent. (16l-%) volatile.

l then introduced this briquet into the second oven and carried the distillation up to 1850 degrees F. and allowed the briquet to slowly cool to 1400 degrees F. at which point it was removed from the oven and thoroughly cooled by quenching. After airdrying the briquet had a volatile content of two and one-halt per cent. (212470), a carbon content of approximately ninety per cent. (90%) and an apparent specific gravity of 1.53. l have also found by trying various other mixtures which have been outlined in the above`speciication that with various percentages of volatile in the briquet mixture l have been able to make briquets more or less similar to those described above, all of which had an apparent `specific gravity of from 1.3 or more. By this process l have succeeded in making good briquets by the use, as a binder, of kerosene, of coal tar, of certain grades of etroleum oil, of asphalt pitch, and of resi ue from benzol stills, from all of which mixtures the results have been comparatively similar.

rlhe expression raw coal used herein is employed to designate coal which is the e uivalent of the partially carbonized coal, w ich can be treated in a manner similar to the partially carbonized coal, and which can be used in my process with satisfactory results in place of the partially carbonizedcoal. These raw coals capable of such use can be readily determined by trial with any hand; in other words, any particular coal which it is proposedto treat.

lt will be manifest that the invention herein described can be realized and performed in diderent ways and in dierent forms of apparatus without departing-from the spirit and scope thereof.

What l claim is:

1. The manufacture of smokeless briquets i llt) ' particular coal found in the locality or at is@ y the mixture into briquets and subjecting the briquets thus formed to a further distillation at higher temperatures than that of the initial distillation to distil from the briquets a substantial portion of the remaining volatile matter `and cooling or quenching the briquets.

2. In the manufacture of briquets from coal or coal mixtures containing seventeen per cent. (17%) or more volatile matter the method which comprises heating coal so as to distil therefrom a limited portion of the volatile matter contained in the coal, pulverizing the residue, mixing with it binding material, forming briquets from the mixture, and heating the briquets to a temperature higher than that employed during the aforementioned distilling operation and in a manner to drive oii| a portion of the volatile matter contained in the briqueted binder and pulverized material. 3. In the manufacture of briquets the method Which comprises taking a pulverized or finely divided coal residue of semi-coke or partially carbonized coal, mixing with said pulverized` residue a hydrocarbon binder, luxing, pressing the iuxed mixture into briquets, and subsequently heating said briquets in a manner to distil therefrom at least a art of the volatile matter contained in the riquets, the last mentioned heating being carried on in a manner to cause the elimination from the briquets of a substantial portion of ammonia derivable therefrom.

4. A briquet having ten per cent. (10%) or less in volatile matter formed by mixing a coal only partially carbonized anda hydrocarbon binder, by iuxing and pressing the mixture into briquets and by subsequently heating said briquets so as to drive olf some volatile matter contained in the binder as' Well as in the partially carbonized coal.

5. A smokeless briquet formed ofa mixture 'of partially carbonized coal and a binder and from which briquet a substantial portion of the volatile matter remaining in the carbonized coal and the binder has been removed by heating after briqueting.

6., The method of making briquets Jfrom high volatile coal which consists in progressively heating coal up to maximum temperature rangin from 825 degrees F. to v1200 degrees F. or a length of time Which Will drive oli' volatile matter contained therein suiiicient to reduce its percentage'to seventeen per cent. (17%) 0r less in the coal thus treated, leaving a partially distilled residue, subsequently formm a mixture of the residue and a suitable binder, and forming the resulting mixture into briquets, heating the briquets thus formed at ahigher temperature than that of the irst distillation and for a suiicient llength of time to distil therefrom a substantial portion of the volatile matter contained in the briquets composed of the binder and residue, and subsequentlyy allowing said briquets to cool.

7. The method of making briquets from high volatile coal which consists in progressively heating coal. up to a maximum tempera-ture ranging from 825 degrees F. to 1200 degrees F. for a length of time which Will drive 01T volatile matter contained therein sufficient to reduce its percentage to seventeen per cent. (17%) or less in the coal thus treated, pulverizing and forming a mixture of the residue and a suitable binder, forming the resulting mixture into briquets and heatlng the briquets thus formed at a higher temperature than that attained during the first heating and for a sutlcient length of tlme to distil from the briquets a substantial portion of the volatile matter contained in the binder and residue.

8. A briquet made from partially carbonized coal and a binder by further carbonization and having a volatile content of ap-y proximately from two-and ahalf per cent. (25%) to ten per cent. (10%).

9. A smokeless briquet having many of the valuable properties? of anthracite coal, formed by mixing partially carbonized coal and a binderand by subsequently distilling oii' a substantial portion of the'volatile matter contained in the briquet until there is left in the briquet only approximately from two and a half per cent. (255%) to ten per cent. (10%) valatile matter.

10. A briquet resulting from carbonizing a briquet that comprises partially carbonized coal.

11. A briquet formed by briqueting nely divided partially carbonized coal and by carbonizing after briqueting so as to remove volatile matter fromthe partially carbonized coal.

12. Aibriquetcarbonized from a mixture of coal, partially carbonized, and binding material.

13. A briquet which is formed of a mixture of partially carbonized coal and a hydrocarbon binder, which briquet has been lcarbonized so as to eliminate a substantial portion of the volatile matter contained therein.

14. A briquet formed of a mixturev of concentrated or partiallyv distilled coal and binding material Which briquet has been carbonized so as to eliminate a substantial portion of the volatile matter co ained in both partially distilled coal and t e binding material therein.

15. A briquet formed of a mixture of partially carbonized coal and a binder, which briquet has been carbonized as a Whole so as to eliminate a substantial portion of the volatile matter in the binder and also a substantial portion ofthe volatile matter remaining in the partially carbonized coal, the

carbonization of the briquet being carried out 1n such a 'manner as to produce a marked v shrinkage in Volume and an increased apparent specic gravit of the briquet.

16.. r1`he process W ich. comprises separately distilling from coal most of the tar' -carryingthe same forward to hi her temperatures than that of the rst distillation to further remove gases and other vapors which develop only minute cells or pores 1n passin from the briquets, theicells of Which.

are su stantially sealed up or closed in the l contraction which takes place in the Subsequent cooling of the briquets.

17. A. briquet produced from coal by car- .bonization, in which briquet the coal resi` due is in the form of soft non-metallic carbon that readily combines With oxygen during combustiom-capabl'e therefore of rapid combustion under draft, Which ybriquet is free burning, tarless, burns Without soot or smoke and yields a fine oury ash. 4

18. The manufacture of smokeless briquets by the method which comprises heating coal and distilling therefrom a portion of the volatile matter contained therein, pulverizing the resulting residue, mixingyvith the pulverized residue material providing a hydrocarbon binder so that the total volatile matter in the resulting mixture,

l other than Water, vvill approximate from eleven per cent. (11%) to seventeen per cent. (17%) in Weight of the total volume of the mixture, then forming the mixturev into briquets and subjecting the briquets thus 'formed to a second operation to distil therefrom at temperatures above 1200 degrees F. a substantial portion of the volatile matter contained in the briquet.

19. ln the manufacture of briquets the method Which comprises heating coal to temperatures of from 800 degrees F. to 1200 degrees F. so as to distill therefrom a substantial portion of the volatile matter contained.. therein, pulverizing the residue and mixing with the pulverized material binding material up to the point Where the volatile matter in the mixture Will approximate from eleven per cent. (11%) to seventeen per cent. (17%) of the mixture, forming briquets from the mixture, -heating the briquets to temperatures higher than said 1200 grecs F. so as to drive c' a portion ofl the volatile matter contained in the binder and pulverized material forming the briquet in order to produce briquets of low volatile content.

20. A bri uet made from a mixture of a partially car onized .coal and'material proits pores, the arresting of the retiene@ viding a binder, by formin under pressure the resulting mixture into riquets, and by subsequently heating said briquets so as-to drive ou' volatile matter contained therein and so as to cause a firm union or cohesion of the particles constituting each ultimate briquet.

21. Briquets made from a mixture com prising partialiy carbonized coal,'water and other material for providing a binder by forming, under pressure, said mixture into briquets and by subsequently heating said briquets so as to drive of? volatile matter contained therein and so as to cause affirm union or cohesion of the particles constituting the ultimate briquets.

22. A briquet. formed by mixingv a partially carbonized coal and one or more materials providing abinder in such proportions that apliroximately from eleven per cent. (11%) to seventeen yper cent. (17%) of the entire mixture is volatile matter, by pressing the resulting mixture into briquets, and by subsequently heating said briquets to a temperature in excess of 1200 degrees F. so as to drive ofi at least some of the volatile matter contained therein.

23. smokeless briquet formed from a coal mixture or coal mash containing volatile matter approximating from eleven per cent. (11%) to seventeen per cent. (17%) of the entire mixture or mash, by pressing into briquet forni and by subsequently heating the briquets thus formed at 1200 degrees F. or more so as to distil od a substantial portion of the volatile matter contained in the bri uet.

24. 'll e making of briquets by the method Which comprises mixing a partially carbonized coal and hydrocarbon material providing a binder, by pressing thetresulting mixture into briquets and by 'subsequentl heating said briquets in a manner whichI causes a driving o' of some of the volatile matiter contained in the partially carbonized coa 2 5. rThe making of briquets by the method yvhich comprises mixing a partially carbonized coal and material providing a binder in such proportions that approximately from eleven per cent. (11%) to seventeen per cent. (1 of the entire mixture is volatile `matter, pressing the resulting mixture into briquets, and subsequently heating said briquets so as to drive od volatile matter consaid briquets so as to stantial portion Lara-ias v teen per cent. (17 thereof, forming from said mixture briquets and subsequently heatingsaid briquets so as to distil therefrom a 'su antial porti-on of the volatile matter therein, and in a man'ner to leave a com-- pletely fused coherent briquet.

28. ln lthe manufacture of briquets the method which comprises mixing with a partially carbonized coal having a high carbon content and a volatile content lower than approximately eleven per cent. (11%), a material for providing a binding material which raises the volatile content of the mixture to approximately from eleven per cent. (11%) to seventeen percent (17%), forming briquets of themix-ture and heating the briquets thus formed to sufficient temperature to distil therefrom a sulbstantial portion of thevolatile matter contained therein including a part of the volatile matter contained in the partially carbonized coal, and n leaving a completely fused coherent briquet of the same general shape. 29. ln the manufacture of briquets the ,A method which comprises mixing a hydrocarbon binder with coal either raw or partially carbonized sothat the volatile matter contained in the mixture will approximate from f eleven per cen-t. L cent (17 adding moisture (11%) `to seventeen per 4to flux the mixsaid mixture into and subsequently heating said as to distil therefrom a substan- 30. ln the manufacture of briquets the method which comprises mixing together, when in a pulverized condition partially carbonized coal and raw coal in such proportions that the volatile matter contained in said coals. will constitute approximately from eleven per cent. (11%) to seventeen per cent. (17%) of the resulting mixture, adding moisture forming the resulting mixture into briquets and subsequently heating distil therefrom a subtained therein, and so as to yield a completely fused coherent briquet.

31. The manufacture of smokeless briquets from coal containing eleven per cent. (11%) to seventeen per cent (17%) volatile matter or from a mixture of coal with other matethe volatile matter contained therein,

of the volatile matter conrial in which mixture -the volatile matter contained therein approximates from eleven per cent'.

(11%) to seventeen per cent. (17%) by the method which comprises forming the `same when in pulverized or finely divided form into briquets by the addition of water as a temporary binder-and subjecting said briquets to a carbonizing process 1n an 1nclosed retort at a temperature of from 1400 degrees F. to S2000-degrees F.

32. The manufacture of smokeless briquets from a partially carbonized coal or a mixture of partially carbonized coal and coke when in finely divided form and in which the volatile matter contained in the partially' carbonized coal or mixture of partially car- I bonized coal and coke approximates from eleven per cent. (11%) to seventeen per cent.v

,tains'from eleven per cent. (11%) to seventeen per cent. (17 of volatile matter, by the method which comp-rises forming said mixture into briquets and subjecting said briquets to .a carbonizing process in an inclosed retort at a temperature to distil from the briquets a substantialportion of the volatile matter contained therein, strong coherent briquet.

. 34. The manufacture of smokeless briquets from. a mixture of coal and coke or coal partially carbonized and which mixture contains from eleven per cent. (11%) to seventeen per cent. (17%) of volatile matter, by the method which comprises forming said mixture into briquets and subjecting said briquets to a carbonizing'process in an inclosed retort at a temperature to distil olf from the briquets a substantial portion of auf subsequently cooling said briquets byair or water.

35. Thev forming of briquets from coal having too high a volatile content for the d1- rect manufacture of briquets by the method which consists inreducing said volatile content by partial carbonization in an inclosed retort so that the volatile matter contained therein will approximate from, eleven per cent. (11%) to seventeen per cent. (17

mixtureand subsequently c'arbonizing in a second retort 1n a manner to distil from the briquets a substantial portion of the volatile yielding a icsA matter still remaining in the resultin residue, leaving a completely fused co erent briquet.-

36. rEhe forming of briquets from coal, coke or partially'carbonized coal, or a mixture of the same in which there is too loW a volatile content for the direct manufacture of smokeless fuels, by the method Which comprises pulver-izing said material and adding thereto sufficient hydro-carbon material to make the proportion of volatile matter contained in the resulting mixture approximate from eleven per cent. (11%) to seventeen per cent. (17%), then forming the resulting mixture into briquets by the addition of Water as a temporary binder and the subsequent further carbonization of the briquets in a second retort at a temperature of approximately from 1400 degrees 1F. to 2000 degrees F. and subsequently cooling the briquets thus formed. j

37. The forming of 'briquets from coal, partially vcarbonized coal, or a mixture of the same having too loW a volatile content for the direct manufacture of smokeless briquets, by the method Which consists in pullverizing the material, the adding of asuiiicient quantity of hydro-carbon binder to make the proportion of volatile matter approximately from eleven per cent. (11%) to seventeen per cent. (17%), as may be required, the pressing or forming the resulting mixture into briquets, the subsequent heating of said briquets in an oven or retort at a temperature of 14:00 degrees F. to 2000 degrees F. so as to distil therefrom the vola-v tile matter contained therein so as to effect the removal and recovery of oy-products given oil during said distillation operation, and the quenching or cooling the result-ing briquets to normal temperature.

38. The process of manufacturing 10W volatile briquets which process comprises initially distilling high volatile coals at Sulliciently loW temperatures to yield a soft, non-metallic, partially carbonized residue,

briqueting this soft partially carbonized residue With the addition of such binding material as is necessary' to raise the volatile matter of the briquets to approximately eleven per cent. (11%) to seventeen per cent. (17%) and subjecting the resulting briquets thus formed to a subsequent distillation at a higher temperature than that of the initial distillation in such a manner as to remove during said subsequent ldistillation further ciently llow temperatures to yield a soft',

non-metallic, partially carbonized residue, adding binding material to said residue and residue after intense subjecting the resulting briquets to a subsequent distillation at a higher temperature than that of the initial distillation in such a manner as to remove during said subsequent distillation further volatile matter from the briquets and in such a manner that `there will be a substantial shrinkage in volume.

40. rlhe process of manufacturing low volatile briquets Which process comprises initially distilling high volatile coals at suiiciently low temperatures to yield a soft, non-metallic, partially carbonized residue, briqueting this soft partially carbonized residue after there has been added such an amount of binding material as is necessary Athe subsequent distillation being such that there -Will not be produced hard metallic cells characteristic of coke.

11. rllhe process of manufacturing low volatile briquets which process comprises initially distilling high volatile coals at sufficiently loW temperatures to yield a soft,

non-metallic, partially carbonized residue, briquetinr this soft, partiallyv carbonized material, and subjecting said ,briquets to a subsequent distillation so as to remove during said subsequent distillation further volatile matter from the briquets,` during Which subsequent distillation a' substantial shrinkage in volume takes place, the heat treatment during theA subsequent distillation being such that there will not be produced hard metallic cells characteristic of coke.

42. rllhe process of manufacturing lovv volatile briquets `Which e process comprises initially distilling high volatile coals at sufficiently loW temperatures to yield a nonmetallic, partially carbonized residue, bri-f queting this partially carbonized residue after there has been added binding material comprising hydrocarbons, and subjecting said briquets to a subsequent distillation at a higher temperature so as to remove during said subsequent distillation further volatile. mat-ter from the briquets, during which subsequent distillation a substantial shrinkage in volume takes place.

43. The process of manufacturing 10W volatile briquets Whichprocess comprises initially distilling coals at suciently low temperatures to yield a soft, non-metallic, partially carbonized residue, during which initial distillation only a little, if, any shrinkage 1n volume that generally accomthere has been added binding4 i inmenso panies the later stagey of avcoking rocA takes place renderin in 'finely form the partially car onized residue, bri-l ueti gr wit out the addition of binding material, if any is necessary to raise the volatile matter in the briquets to some eleven per cent. (11%) to seventeen per cent. (17%), and subjecting said briquets .to a second distillation at a higher temperature to remove additional volatile matter from the e the second distillation being carried outin such a manner as to cause a substan ial shrinkage in volume of each briquet but so as not to produce the hard metallic cell structure characteristic of coke.

1a. The process of manufacturing low `volatile briquets which process comprises initially distilling coals at suiiiciently low temperatures to yield a non-metallic, partially carbonized residue, during whichini'- tial distillation only a little, if any, shrinkage in volume that enerally accompanies the later stage of a co e process takes place, rendering in finelv divided form the partially carbonized residue, briqueting this carbonized residue, and subjecting said briquets to a second distillation at a higher temperature to remove additional volatile matter from the briquets, the second distillation being carried out in such a manner as to cause a substantial shrinkage in volume of. each briquet.

45. The process of manufacturing low volatile briquets which process consists in initially distilling high volatile coal at a sufciently low temperature to yield a soft, non-metallic, partially carbonized residue, said, initial distilling operation being carried out in such a manner that little, if any, shrinkage takes place inthe coal being treated, briqueting the resulting soft carbon residue so as to form vbriquets comprising eleven per cent. (11%) to seventeen per cent. (17%) volatile matter, and subjecting said briquets to a second distillation at a higher temperature vto remove additional volatile matter from the briquets and in such a manner as to cause a substantial shrinkage in volume of the briquets.

46. The process of manufacturing low volatile briquets which process consists in initially distilling high volatile coal at a vsuficiently lowtemperature to yield a uniform partially carbonized residue, said initial distilling operationfbeing carried out in such a manner that little',f any, shrinkage takes place Vin the coal 'being treated, briqueting said resulting residue so as to form briquets and subjecting said briquets to a second distillation at a higher tempratureto remove additional volatile matter from the briquets and in such a manner as tocause a substantial shrinkage in volume of the bri luets.

4:7. The4 process of manufacturing low thls carbonized residue either withy f Virgola/tile bripuets which process consi-sts..- in videiitf'producing A tially carbonized residue, briqueting the pap rom lcoal by distillation a par- 'tially carbonized residue so as to formbriquets comprising eleven per cent. (11'%) to seventeen per cent. (17%) volatile matter, subjecting said briquets to a seconddistillation at a higher temperature to remove additional volatile matter from the briquets and in such a manner to cause a substantial briquets,n shrinkage in volume of the briquets. v

48. The making of briquets from partially carbonized coal which partially carbonized coal has previously' been subjected to only a low temperature distillation whereby the carbon therein would be in a relatively soft condition, by the` process which comprises briqueting the partially carbonized coal and subjecting said briquets `to a second distillation or carbonization operation whichis carried out at higher ltemperatures than that to which the coal was subjected prior to briqueting.

49. The making of briquets from partially carbonized coal which partially carbonized coal has previously been subjected to only allow temperature distillation whereby the carbon therein is in a relatively soft condition, by the process which comprises bri-4 ing at higher temperatures than that to which the coalfwas subjected prior to briqueting but as to leave the briquet sufficiently free burning to burn under ordinary conditions of draft evenwhen the volatile `matter is less than two and one-half per cent. l (215%) of the total.

50. rEhe process of treating coal consisting in first crushing said coal, thenA heating said coal in a manner to reduce its volatile content and to leave a soft, lnon-metallic, partially carbonized, relatively 'uniform residue, removing the gases and vapors given off by the coal during said heating, and cooling and pulverizing the residual mass.

51. The process of treating coal consistingy in first crushing said coal, then heating said coal in a manner to reduce its volatile contentvand to leave a soft, non-metallic, rela-l tively uniform, partially carbonized residue, removing the gases and vapors given off by the coal during said heating, cooling and pulverizing the residual mass, briqueting, and subjecting the briquets to a second heat treatment at temperatures higher than that to which the-'coal was subjected during the heating first referred to.

52. The process of treating coal comprising first crushing said coal, heating said crushed coal in a manner to partially remove'its volatile content and in a manner to leave a soft, non-metallic, relatively uniform residue, pulverizing the residual mass, mixing therewith la suitable.4 percentage of binding material, briqueting, and carboniz ing the briquets at temperatures higher than that to which the coal was rst subjected.,

53. The process of treating coal comprising irst crushing said coal, heating said crushed coal in a manner to partially remove its volatile content and in a manner to leave a soft, non-metallic residue, pulver izing the residual mass, mixing therewith a suitable percentage of binding material, briqueting, and carbonizing the briquets at temperatures higher than that to which the coal was lil-st subjected. 54E. The process which comprises the distilling from coal ci tar vapors and gases that pass ofi at low temperatures and expand and swell the material by developing its pores, the arresting oi the distillation whenvthe pores have been developed, the rendering of the coal residue into nely di' vided Jt'orrn, the subsequent forming of the iinely divided residue, under pressure, into briquets of denite shape, and the subsequent distillation of gases and vapors from the briquets which subsequent distillation is carried forward to temperatures relatively emesse higher than those of the rst distillation, but so as to develop only minute cells or pores within the briquets. v

55. The process which comprises separately distilling from coal most of the tar vapors and gases which pass 0E at low temperatures and expand and swell the material by developing its pores, the arresting of the distillation, the formation of the residue into definite pressed shapes by briqueting or the like, the resuming of the distillation and the carrying of' the samevorward to a higher temperature than that of the first distillation to further remove gases and other vapors which develop only minute cells or pores in passing from the briquets, and allowing the briquets to cool, the last men tioned heatin being carried out at teniperatures su ciently high to produce e strong coherent briquet structure..

This specication signed and witnessed this Meth. day of November, A. l). 1916.

CHARLES HWRD SMll'lll-l., Signed in the presence ofn G, MCGMNN, Env/nv A. Riemen., 

